When new police officers arrive on Saibai Island, Elsie Waia greets them with warm words her people have used for thousands of years: "Kapu bathaynga". It means "good morning" in the island's local language, Kalaw Kawaw Ya.

Her grasp of languages allows Ms Waia to help Queensland police crack crimes and enforce the law on Saibai, one of the Torres Strait's northern-most islands.

"Without us, they can't get their job done out in these communities," Ms Waia said.

"Language barrier is a big thing … you know English is a third or fourth language for us, so understanding can be a bit of a challenge."

Ms Waia is a Torres Strait Police Liaison Officer — or "tiplo" as they are known locally — a unique group of Queensland Police Service employees based on 14 of the region's remote islands.

They are referred to as the "eyes and ears" on the ground, an integral part of policing in this diverse region.

Often, tiplos are also the first to respond to crimes.

When an incident occurs, it might take state police hours or even days to get to the scene by boat, small plane or helicopter.

Sergeant Jade Taylor, who manages the tiplo program, said they could keep situations under control, take statements and report back to police.

"[Tiplos] are very imperative for what we do," Sergeant Taylor said.

"Without them, we wouldn't know what happens because a lot of the communities aren't comfortable ringing triple zero or calling through to the police station."

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